Advertising or lighting fixture

ABSTRACT

An apparatus which changes its exterior shape and faces may be used, for example, as an advertising or lighting fixture. In one embodiment the apparatus is driven by an electric motor to be a rotating cube and then is transformed in appearance to a rotating round shape. In that embodiment the apparatus comprises a motor which rotates, relative to a base, a shaft having mounted upon it a first wheel. Two supports, which are connected but spaced apart, are rotatably mounted on the base. Each of the supports, away from their axis, have pivots which rotatably mount vertically extending members between the supports. Each member at its top p1vot has a friction clutch-like transmission wheel which contacts the rim of the first wheel. The first wheel pivots the members to change the shape presented, and then with possible slippage of the transmission wheels rotates the supports along with the members.

United States Patent 1 1 Terre et al.

1451 Sept. 4, 1973 ADVERTISING OR LIGHTING FIXTURE 22 Filed: Oct. 14, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 189,164

[52] US. Cl 40/33, 35/72, 35/77,

40/106.3 [51] Int. Cl. G09I 11/10 [58] Field of Search ..35/6972,

Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerVance Y. Hum AttorneyEliot S. Gerber [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus which changes its exterior shape and faces may be used, for example, as an advertising or lighting fixture. In one embodiment the apparatus is driven by an electric motor to be a rotating cube and then is transformed in appearance to a rotating round shape. In that embodiment the apparatus comprises a motor which rotates, relative to a base, a shaft having mounted upon it a first wheel. Two supports, which are connected but spaced apart, are rotatably mounted on the base. Each of the supports, away from their axis, have pivots which rotatably mount vertically extending members between the supports. Each member at its top plvot has a friction clutch-like transmission wheel which contacts the rim of the first wheel. The first wheel pivots the members to change the shape presented, and then with possible slippage of the transmission wheels rotates the supports along with the members.

9 Claims, 78 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 4m 3.755536 SHEH U? 9 RAM FIG. 46 .F/6.47

F/G. so {$.51

INVENTORS: ALBERTO R. TERRE' JACOBO S. ZAIVD ATTORNEY PAIENTEMEP 4 mm 3,755,936

sum P m NTO/Qg;

ALBERTO TERRE JACOBO 5. ZAND PATENTEDSEP Mm 3755.936

SHEET 8 BF 9 IN VE N T 0R5 ALBER T0 R. TERRE JA C050 5. 2A MD ADVERTISING OR LIGHTING FIXTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for changing the appearance and display of an object and more particularly may be used as an advertisement display, a toy, an art object, or as a lighting fixture.

It is known, in the prior art, to have an advertising display which consists of a row of elongated cylinders which are uniformly triangular in cross-section. The edges of the cylinders touch, or almost touch, to present the appearance of a flat surface having thereon an advertising message. From time to time, either by hand or using a motor, the cylinders are simultaneously rotated 120, presenting the appearance of a new flat surface and a new advertising messagerThat type of apparatus presents three surfaces and its movement consists of changing those surfaces.

It is also known to apply an advertisement to a geometric solid or cube. The geometric solid is then mounted on pivots and slowly rotated, but does not change its shape or appearance.

In still another advertising apparatus, a curtain or shutter, having one advertising message on its face, is opened to reveal a different advertisement on a panel underneath it, and is then closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one preferred embodiment of the presentinven tion four vertically extending members (cylinders) are mounted for a pivoting motion between a top support and a bottom support. Each cylinder, in cross-section, is a 90 segment of a circle so that each cylinder has two flat side walls and a curved side wall. Each cylinder has a bottom freely rotatable pivot (rotatably mounted in the bottom support) and a top pivot shaft having a transmission wheel fixed thereto. The top pivot shaft extends through a bearing hole in the top support and its transmission wheel is in contact with a wheel. The wheel is rotated by a motor, for a predetermined numher of rotations in one direction, and then, for a predetermined number of rotations in the opposite direction, automatically in repeated cycles.

Assuming that the apparatus starts to operate from its appearance as a cube, the steps of one cycle will be described. The cube (having on its four faces one or more advertising messages) will rotate, for example clockwise, a number of times. The direction of motor rotation to the wheel will be reversed, in this example, to counter-clockwise. The wheel, by friction on the transmission wheels, will turn each segment-cylinder about its pivot until its curved wall is exposed and the said cylinders can rotate no further because they touch each other, hence offering a resistance load. The wheel will then override the action of the bottom conical clutch and the rotating movement of the center wheel will be transmitted to the entire new cylindrical appearing shape which will start rotating, in the counterclockwise direction, as a single body. After a predetermined number of rotations, the counter-clockwise rotation will stop, the direction of rotation will be reversed, for example, by a timer reverser, the body (formed of the four segments-cylinders) changed back to a cube, and the cube, along with the two supports, again rotated clockwise. In another embodiment, for example, as a lighting fixture, the elongated members would simultaneously rotate to change the exterior appearance or dimension. However, the supports would not rotate, so that the supports may be a fixed base, if deemed desirable.

The preferred embodiment will be described in connection with cylinders of a certain cross-sectional shape, namely, segments of a circle. However, it will be understood that the cylinders may be regular or irregular and of other cross-sectional shapes to achieve different changes of any given form, regular or irregular. Indeed, the cylinders need not be true cylinders but may have distortions of their walls. Although the preferred embodiment is described as an advertising apparatus, it will also be understood that the apparatus may be used for other purposes, for example, as a toy, as a lighting fixture, as an art display mechanism, or as an art object.

In an essentially two-dimensional embodiment of the present invention, the cylinders of the first embodiment are thin and the apparatus is viewed from the end, i.e., what would be cross-sectional in the other embodiments. The viewer sees a flat surface which changes shape. In addition, but not necessarily, the surface may rotate first in one direction and then in the other.

It is among the objectives of the present invention to provide a method for the transformation of shapes (bidimensional) and/or volumes (tridimensional) from one configuration (regular or irregular) to another, by means of dividing the shape or volume into a preselected number of parts which when rotated with respect to each other will expose previously unexposed surfaces which in combination with the other previously exposed surfaces will define a new shape different from the original. An apparatus, as an embodiment of this method, which may be used for advertising or other purposes: (1) is relatively simple and sturdy in construction, so that it may be produced at a low cost and will not be likely to malfunction in operation; (2) will present to the viewer an interesting spectacle of a twodirectional revolving shape; (3) will present to the viewer an interesting object which changes in apparent geometric form; and (4) will present various luminous and optical effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objectives of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the description giving the inventors best mode of practicing the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. ii is a front perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention showing an exterior round cylinder shape;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 but showing an exterior cubical shape;

FIGS. 3-40 show progressive steps, as seen in an illustrative cross-sectional view, from the exterior round shape of FIG. 11 to the exterior cubical shape of FIG. 10;

FIG. Ill is a front perspective view of the four segments (cylinders) when positioned in the exterior round shape of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the same four segments when positioned in the exterior cubical shape of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a front cross-sectional view of the first embodiment showing one form of apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a top cross-sectional view, taken long lines AA of FIG. 13, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged detailed view, in cross-section, of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 13;

FIGS. I7-28 and 31-32 are top plan views of alternative geometric forms for use in the present invention, with each pair FIGS. 17 and 18, 19 and 20, 21 and 22, 23 and 24, 25 and 26, 27 and 28, 31 and 32 showing the transformation;

FIGS. 29 and are perspective views of still another geometric form showing the transformation of exterior shape;

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view similar to the view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of a two-dimensional device;

FIG. 36C is a side plan view of the device of FIG. 35;

FIG. 37B is a partial cross-sectional view of a twodimensional device;

FIGS. 36-59 are top plan views of alternative geometric forms for use in the present invention, with each pair FIGS. 36 and 37; 38 and 39; 40 and 41; 42 and 43; 44 and 45; 46 and 47; 48 and 49, 50 and 51; 52 and 53; 54 and 55; 56 and 57; 58 and 59 showing the transformation;

FIGS. 60-63 show the transformation of a bottle shape into a cylinder square in cross-section, with FIGS. 60 and 61 being perspective views and FIGS. 62 and 63 being top cross-sectional views;

FIGS. 64-67 show another transformation with FIGS. 64 and 65 being perspective views, FIGS. 66 and 67 being top cross-sectional views and FIG. 68 being a perspective view of a solid segment;

FIGS. 68B, 69, 70, 71 and 723 show alternative arrangements for a transformation, for example, for a lamp, the FIGS. 68B-7l being top cross-sections and FIG. 72B being a perspective;

FIG. 72 is a side cross-sectional view of a twodimensional transformation structure of the type shown in FIGS. 35 and 36;

FIG. 73 is a top cross-sectional view of the clutch of the device of FIG. 72; and

FIG. 74 is a top cross-sectional view of the belt and gear drive arrangement of the device of FIG. 72.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the central body structure of the present invention presents different appearances at different times. In FIG. 1 it appears as a ground straight-walled cylinder. In FIG. 2 it appears as a cube.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the central body structure consists of four cylinders l which are segments of a circle, when viewed in cross-section. Each cylinder 1 has a curved wall, which is one-fourth of a circle (in cross-section) and two flat walls. Each cylinder has a protruding top pivot shaft 2 and a protruding bottom pivot shaft 3.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 each tip pivot shaft 2 protrudes through a hole in a housing 4, which is the first support member. Each top pivot shaft 2 has fixed thereto a small transmission wheel 9. The four wheels 9 are in frictional contact with the larger wheel 8, which is fixed to shaft 7. Shaft 7 is the output shaft of a gear system 14 which is driven by the conventional electric motor 13 under control of timer 15, which controls the motor direction. The motor means (gear reduction system 14, motor 13, timer 15) is arranged to turn shaft 7 a predetermined number of times. For example, the timer may use cams and microswitches to reverse the direction of rotation and to obtain a predetermined number of rotations each opposite direction. For example, it may rotate shaft 7 10 times clockwise and then l0 times counterclockwise in repeated cycles The description is of an electric motor as the motor means. However, other motor means may be em ployed, such as hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical, such as a hand-operated lever. The description is also of electric controls. However, other sequence control mechanisms, such as fluidic or suitable combinations, may alternatively be used.

The bottom protruding pivots 3 are rotatably mounted in sockets (housings) in a bottom (second) support 5. Support 5 is rigidly connected to housing 4 by a tubular connection means 6, so that housing 4, tube 6 and support 5 rotate as a unit. Support 5 is rotatably mounted, by a conical clutch 10, in a socket (housing) 11 in base 12. A fiat clutch may be used instead of conical clutch 10, but the conical clutch does not require the alignment and mechanical procedure of a flat clutch.

A more detailed structure is presented in FIG. 15. As shown, the shaft 7 rotates freely in plane bearing 27 of the top portion of base 12. A set screw 17 fixes wheel 8 to shaft 7. Each small wheel 9 carries an O ring (rubber, plastic, etc.) 16 on its rim for frictional contact with the rim of wheel 9. The wheel 9 is fixed to pivot shaft 2 by a set screw 17a. The shaft 2 freely rotates in plane bearing 19 set in housing 4 between low frictional washers l8 and 18a. A flanged bushing 21 is fixed to shaft 2 and its flange is attached to the hollow cylinder 1 by means of washers 24, gaskets 23 and screws 22. Preferably bushing 21, and the other bearings, are self-lubricating, for example, of a nylon or polytetrafluoride plastic resin, but in a larger structure ball or tapered cylinder bearings may be used. The bottom pivot shaft 3 is fixed to flanged bushing 25 which is attached to cylinder 1 using washers 24a, gaskets 23a and screws 22a. The pivot shaft 3 freely rotates in plane bearing 20 fixed in a socket of bottom support member 5.

The bottom support 5 includes a plate-like member fixed by pin 31a and screw 32a, to a conical bushing 10. The cone of bushing 10 rotates in a conical clutch 11 at the bttom portion of base 12. Clutch 11 is mounted with a rubber shim 35 to compensate for possible misalignment.

The tubular connection spacer means 6 is fixed, for example, by welding or epoxy stress bonding, to a shoulder of bushing 10 (at its bottom) and is fixed to a shoulder of bushing 30 (at its top). The tube 6 carries a tubular mount 33 having a tubular plane bearing 29 within which shaft 7 freely rotates. Shaft 7 also freely rotates in self-lubricating plane bearing 28 held within bushing 30. The bottom of the housing 4 is fixed to bushing 30 by pin 31 and screw 32. The top 34 of housing 4 has a hole through which shaft 7 protrudes.

The conical clutch 1 1 has two functions. First, it centers the bottom support at its base and acts as the axis of rotation of that base. Secondly, it provides the necessary rotational load, i.e., a frictional load, to prevent the rotation of the base during the shape transformation period. If there was no friction at clutch 11 the sign, upon change of the direction of rotation, would rotate in the opposite direction without turning of the cylinders. The friction at clutch 11 is such that, upon change of rotation direction, there is less resistance to turning the cylinders than there is to rotate the whole newly formed body and base. Specifically, there is less friction from all the pivots shafts of all the cylinders than there is from clutch 11. Consequently, when the direction of rotation changes, the members (cylinders) will first each individually rotate till each side of the newly formed body touches with each other, offering a resistance load, and subsequently the driving rotational motion will be transmitted to the supports and body, i.e., the group of members which then rotates as a unit.

The description of the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 11, 12 is of members which are right-sided elongated cylinders of 90 segments of a circle in cross-section. However, the possible variables in the transformation of member shapes and volumes one into another are countless. To determine the number of possible cariants is almost impossible as it falls within the realm of combinatory calculus. There are numerous possible geometric shapes and volumes, regular or irregular, with the number of irregular shapes being huge. We describe here only a few to illustrate these possible transformations, bearing in mind that the transformation principle is always the same in all embodiments.

The embodiment of FIG. 15 is particularly suited for a large advertising sign. The central rotating axis 7 is hollow, which permits it to carry one or more electrical cables. The cable is connected to light bulbs inside the segments, with the sectors being translucent or transparent, as described below. Such a construction is also suitable for a lamp. The supporting structure, with a top housing which protects the transmission and a bottom housing which protects the clutch, permits each disassembly and repair.

The walls of the members may be transparent, translucent or opaque. For example, they may have thereon an advertising sign of picture. Alternatively one or more of the walls, to provide visual interest, may be made of one of the materials listed below, or combinations thereof.

When the present invention is'used as a lamp (lighting fixture) or as an advertisement or art exhibit, etc., its walls may be of milk glass or white translucent plastic. Alternatively, to provide visual interest, one or more of the members, or one or more of the walls of the members, may be of the materials listed below. The following list of suitable member wall materials is not exhaustive, but is intended to illustrate some interesting visual effects. The list is: patterned glass or plastic; diffraction gratings; halftone screens (rules glass and contact screen); multilens thermoplastic or glass sheeting; transparent (or translucent) materials on which have been molded various separate negative (or similar) Fresnel lenses; lenticular surfaced materials (plastic or glass, etc.); addition and/or combination of mirrors and Fresnel lenses; combination of sheets for various diffraction effects; combination of blinking light sources internal to the members with rotating transparent colored masks or patterns giving a resulting spinning and- [or random pattern imagery effects; infrared diffraction gratings; use of transparencies or polarized crystal slides or equivalents in combination with other optical giving means or by themselves; bior tridimensional kaleidoscopic additionals or means that will induce a scintillating and/or kaleidoscopic effect; rotating color wheels combined or by themselves; polarizing materials (glass and/or plastic); lenticular wheels; masking wheels; liquid or dry kaleidoscopic wheels; light source dimmers for bulbs within the members or for exterior lighting on the fixture; black light (ultraviolet) for bulbs within the members or for exterior lighting on the fixture; moire patterns; prisms, holographic imagery (slides or other); diffusion screens; one-way transparent glass or plastic mirrors; fiber optic materials; and combinations of materials, textures or colors for each of the surfaces which may be clear, translucent or opaque.

The two-dimensional embodiment of FIGS. 35, 36 and 72-74 includes a base 100, a shaft 101 rotatably mounted in base 100, a central gear 102 fixed to shaft 101 and four pinion gears 103, 104, 105 and 106 rotatably mounted in casing 107. The shaft of each pinion gear 103-106 carries a flat geometric shape 108, 109, for example, of the type shown in FIGS. 17-32 and 36-59. The casing 107 is rotatably mounted on the end of shaft 101 and is rotated by a cord 110 which goes around pulley 111. Pulley 111 is fixed to the output shaft 112 of motor 113. The casing 107 is fixed by screws 114 to clutch plate 115 which rotates within left and right clutch members 116 and 117. Plate 115 is fixed to shaft 101. The clutch members 116 and 117 pivot on respective pivots 118 and 119 and are pulled together by coil spring 120. The casing turns the four geometric forms (only two of which, 108 and 109, are seen in FIG. '72) by means of gear 100 rotating gears 103-107, until the forms touch and can turn no more. Then the friction of the clutch will be overcome and the entire casing will rotate. After a selected number of rotations, the motor shaft direction will then be reversed and, as explained above, the shape transformed and the casing rotated in the opposite direction.

We claim:

1. A fixture for the transformation of shapes comprising a top support and a bottom support; a spacer spacing said top support from said bottom support and connecting them together;

a set of at least three pivot means on each of said supports, the said pivot means of each set being equally spaced along an imaginary circle;

a plurality of at least three display members, each display member being uniform in outline with the others, each display member having at least three side edges and a top and a bottom; said display members being positioned between said top and said bottom support;

each said display member having a top and a bottom pivot means at respectively its top and its bottom and rotatably connected respectively to one of said top support pivot means and said bottom pivot means, each of said top and bottom pivot means of each display member being aligned and each of said pivot means being near to one of its edges;

a transmission means connected to each display member pivot means to turn said display member; and

a rotary connecting means rotatably mounted on said base and connecting said transmission means to simultaneously rotate each of said transmission means when said rotary connecting means is retated;

wherein said members have a first rest position with their first and second edges in edge-to-edge contact with the second and first edges of the adjacent display member and their third side edges exposed to form one regular external geometric appearance and after rotation assume a different rest position to form a different regular external geometric appearance with their third edges in edge-to-edge contact and their second and first edges exposed.

2. A fixture as in claim 1 and including a base; wherein said first support has an axis and is rotatably mounted on said base,

said second support member has an axis and is rotatably mounted to move with said first support;

a second transmission rotatably relative to said base and upon which said second transmission means including a friction clutch;

bidirectional motor means connected to said base to rotate said second transmission means relative to said base first in one direction and then in the opposite direction; and

said first transmission means contacting said second transmission means to transmit rotary motion from said motor means to rotatably turn said display members to their first rest position and then to rotate said top and bottom supports together with said display members in one direction, and then to turn said display members to their different rest position, and then to rotate said first and second supports together with said display members in the opposite direction.

3. A fixture as in claim 2 wherein each of said members is an elongated cylinder.

4. A fixture as in claim 2 wherein said spacer is a tube.

5. A fixture as in claim 2 wherein said transmission members are wheels and said connecting means is a wheel.

6. A fixture as in claim 2 wherein said members have a first rest position with their side walls touching each other and after rotation assume a second rest position with their side walls touching each other.

7. A fixture as in claim 1 wherein said first and second edges are elongated panels having thereon first indicia and said third edges are elongated panels having thereon second and different indicia.

8. A fixture for the transformation of shapes comprising a support;

at least three pivot means on said support, the said pivot means being equally spaced along an imaginary circle;

a plurality of at least three display members, each dis play member being uniform in outline with the others, each display member having at least three side edges and a top and a bottom; said display members being positioned on said support;

each said display member having a pivot means at its bottom which is rotatably connected to one of said support pivot means, each of said bottom pivot means of each display member being near to one of its edges;

a transmission means connected to each display member pivot means to turn said display member; and

a rotary connecting means connecting said transmission means to simultaneously rotate each of said transmission means when said rotary connecting means is rotated;

wherein said members have a first rest position with their first and second edges in edge-to-edge contact with the second and first edges of the adjacent display member and their third side edges exposed to form one regular geometric appearance and after rotation assume a different rest position to form a different regular external geometric appearance, with their third edges in edge-to-edge contact and their second and first edges exposed.

9. A fixture as in claim 8 and including a base;

wherein said support has an axis and is rotatably mounted on said base,

a second transmission means rotatable relative to said base and upon which said support is mounted, said second transmission means including a friction clutch, each of said bottom pivot means providing less friction than said friction clutch;

bidirectional motor means connected to said base to rotate said second transmission means relative to said base first in one direction and then in the opposite direction; and

said first transmission means contacting said second transmission means to transmit rotary motion from said motor means to rotatably turn said display members to their first rest position and then to rotate said support together with said display members in one direction, and then to turn said display members to their different rest position, and then to rotate said support together with said display members in the opposite direction.

I! III l i 

1. A fixture for the transformation of shapes comprising a top support and a bottom support; a spacer spacing said top support from said bottom support and connecting them together; a set of at least three pivot means on each of said supports, the said pivot means of each set being equally spaced along an imaginary circle; a plurality of at least three display members, each display member being uniform in outline with the others, each display member having at least three side edges and a top and a bottom; said display members being positioned between said top and said bottom support; each said display member having a top and a bottom pivot means at respectively its top and its bottom and rotatably connected respectively to one of said top support pivot means and said bottom pivot means, each of said top and bottom pivot means of each display member being aligned and each of said pivot means being near to one of its edges; a transmission means connected to each display member pivot means to turn said display member; and a rotary connecting means rotatably mounted on said base and connecting said transmission means to simultaneously rotate each of said transmission means when said rotary connecting means is rotated; wherein said members have a first rest position with their first and second edges in edge-to-edge contact with the second and first edges of the adjacent display member and their third side edges exposed to form one regular external geometric appearance and after rotation assume a different rest position to form a different regular external geometric appearance with their third edges in edge-to-edge contact and their second and first edges exposed.
 2. A fixture as in claim 1 and including a base; wherein said first support has an axis and is rotatably mounted on said base, said second support member has an axis and is rotatably mounted to move with said first support; a second transmission rotatably relative to said base and upon which said second transmission means including a friction clutch; bidirectional motor means connected to said base to rotate said second transmission means relative to said base first in one direction and then in the opposite direction; and said first transmission means contacting said second transmission means to transmit rotary motion from said motor means to rotatably turn said display members to their first rest position and then to rotate said top and bottom supports together with said display members in one direction, and then to turn said display members to their different rest position, and then to rotate said first and second supports together with said display members in the opposite direction.
 3. A fixture as in claim 2 wherein each of said members is an elongated cylinder.
 4. A fixture as in claim 2 wherein said spacer is a tube.
 5. A fixture as in claim 2 wherein said transmission members are wheels and said connecting means is a wheel.
 6. A fixture as in claim 2 wherein said members have a first rest position with their side walls touching each other and after rotation assume a second rest position with their side walls touching each other.
 7. A fixture as in claim 1 wherein said first and second edges are elongated panels having thereon first inDicia and said third edges are elongated panels having thereon second and different indicia.
 8. A fixture for the transformation of shapes comprising a support; at least three pivot means on said support, the said pivot means being equally spaced along an imaginary circle; a plurality of at least three display members, each display member being uniform in outline with the others, each display member having at least three side edges and a top and a bottom; said display members being positioned on said support; each said display member having a pivot means at its bottom which is rotatably connected to one of said support pivot means, each of said bottom pivot means of each display member being near to one of its edges; a transmission means connected to each display member pivot means to turn said display member; and a rotary connecting means connecting said transmission means to simultaneously rotate each of said transmission means when said rotary connecting means is rotated; wherein said members have a first rest position with their first and second edges in edge-to-edge contact with the second and first edges of the adjacent display member and their third side edges exposed to form one regular geometric appearance and after rotation assume a different rest position to form a different regular external geometric appearance, with their third edges in edge-to-edge contact and their second and first edges exposed.
 9. A fixture as in claim 8 and including a base; wherein said support has an axis and is rotatably mounted on said base, a second transmission means rotatable relative to said base and upon which said support is mounted, said second transmission means including a friction clutch, each of said bottom pivot means providing less friction than said friction clutch; bidirectional motor means connected to said base to rotate said second transmission means relative to said base first in one direction and then in the opposite direction; and said first transmission means contacting said second transmission means to transmit rotary motion from said motor means to rotatably turn said display members to their first rest position and then to rotate said support together with said display members in one direction, and then to turn said display members to their different rest position, and then to rotate said support together with said display members in the opposite direction. 